Ridgway volleyball downs Lady Dutch 3-0

Photo by Jim Mulcahy
Kristen Anderson, 3, records the kill on this play as she beats the block of Ridgway’s Mandie Leithner, 8, and Sierra Kos, 21, during the first set of last night’s match played at the Dutch Oven.

By

Jim Mulcahy

The Ridgway Lady Elker volleyball team handed the St. Marys Area Lady Dutch a 3-0 setback last night at the SMAHS Dutch Oven.
The Lady Elkers won the first set by a 28-26 score. They took the second set 25-15 and won the third set 25-13 to win the match.
In the first set, St. Marys jumped out to an 8-0 lead behind the serving of Lena Hanes. She recorded three aces in that stretch, with Taylor Bellina getting a kill. The teams traded sideouts. With Katie Oknefski serving, the Lady Elkers cut the St. Marys lead to 10-6. Ridgway got the serve back trailing 12-8. With Amanda Shilk serving, they would knot the score at 12-12. The set was back and forth the rest of the way as the Lady Elkers would win 28-26 on a kill by Oknefski.
The second set saw Ridgway open the 8-0 lead with Jenna Hoffman serving. She had one ace while Oknefski and Ellie Woodford both had kills. St. Marys cut the lead to 9-3 as they got the serve back. A kill by Brittany Tarle made the score 9-4. Ridgway would maintain a five-to-eight-point lead the remainder of the set as they won by the 25-15 score.
The third set of the evening saw Ridgway take an 8-2 lead primarily on the serving of Woodford. A kill by Anderson gave St. Marys the serve. The teams traded sideouts as Ridgway held the six-point lead. With Kirsten Woodford serving, the Lady Elkers went up 16-7.
Ridgway got the serve back leading 19-10. With Woodford serving, Ridgway moved out to a 23-10 advantage. They went on to win the set 25-13 to win the match 3-0.
“They kept me on the edge of my seat in the first set,” said Ridgway coach Janet Redmond. “But they showed that determination and focus will get you back in the game and not worry what the scoreboard says and start playing volleyball.”
“Our defense was good and when you play good defense you can do other things. This group are not quitters,” said Redmond.
The Ridgway squad was led by the serving of Jenna Hoffman with 10 service points, Amanda Shilk with eight and Katie Oknefski with seven. Oknefski also had six kills.
Lena Hanes led the Lady Dutch with nine service points. Taylor Bellina and Kiana Hoohuli each had three kills.
“We were inconsistent in every aspect of the game,” said St. Marys coach Erica Vogt. “We completely gave that game away. We’re going to put that game behind us and move forward from here.”
In the junior varsity game, St. Marys won in two.
The Lady Dutch return to action next Tuesday when they play host to the Johnsonburg Ramettes. Junior varsity begins at 6 p.m., with varsity to follow.
The Lady Elkers return to action next Tuesday when they travel to Kane. Junior varsity begins at 6 p.m., with varsity to follow.